Reno Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Provide Material Support to Terrorists

The U.S. Attorney's Office says a Reno man pleaded guilty on Tuesday to conspiracy to provide material support and resources to terrorists.

Acting Assistant Attorney General for National Security Mary B. McCord, U.S. Attorney Daniel G. Bogden for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI’s Las Vegas Division announced that 42-year-old Balwinder Singh of Reno pleaded guilty on Tuesday to conspiracy to provide material support and resources to terrorists knowing and intending that such support would be used to commit terrorist attacks overseas.

Singh, who uses the aliases Jhaji, Happy, Possi and Baljit Singh, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Larry R. Hicks to one count of conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists. He has been detained since his arrest on December 17, 2013 and was charged on Dec. 18, 2013.

“Singh attempted to provide material support and resources to terrorists to create violence and disruption abroad,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General McCord. “Identifying, thwarting and holding accountable individuals who pursue international terrorism is a top priority of the Department of Justice.”

According to court filed documents and admissions made in connection with the plea agreement, between September and December 17 of 2013, Singh conspired with others to support terrorist attacks in India as part of a movement to create an independent Sikh state in the Punjab region of India. Singh is a citizen of India and permanent U.S. resident.

“Today’s plea is the result of the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force working proactively to disrupt terrorist attacks,” said U.S. Attorney Bogden. “National security is a top priority for the U.S. Attorney’s Office and we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to locate, identify, and prosecute those who conspire and attempt to provide material support to terrorists and terrorist activities.”

Authorities say Singh communicated with co-conspirators by telephone to discuss plans and agreed to provide material support by facilitating a co-conspirator’s travel to and within South Asia and providing funding and materials necessary to carry out an overseas attack.

They say in October 2013, Singh and co-conspirators agreed to have one co-conspirator travel to South Asia in the fall of 2013 where the co-conspirator would travel to India and commit a terror attack with a final target determined after the co-conspirator arrived in South Asia.

In November 2013, Singh purchased two sets of night vision goggles where he provided the night vision goggles to a co-conspirator in December who was going to carry out the planned attack. On Dec. 9, 2013, U.S. law enforcement prevented the co-conspirator from boarding a flight from the San Francisco to Bangkok, Thailand in order to carry out the terror attack with the night vision goggles provided to him by Singh, and the planned terror attack never occurred.

After these events, Singh and his co-conspirators continued to discuss and plan the terror attack in India until Singh’s arrest.

“This is a strong indicator of the law enforcement community’s commitment to combating terrorism and keeping our nation safe,” said Special Agent in Charge Rouse.

Singh could face up to 15 years in prison, with the final sentencing to be determined by the court which is set for Feb. 27, 2017.